Freedom

I want to talk about freedom.

How much freedom do you experience in your life? Are you constantly worried and bothered by all sorts of things that you have no enjoyment in your life? Do you constantly worry about who is going to be disappointed if you don’t do something the way they want? Allow me to point out, YOU ARE NOT FREE.

If you are “in Christ” then you have been set free! Have you ever thought about what that means? Have you ever considered how important it is to God for you to enjoy this gift of freedom by living it out? Well, it’s true. I think it is high time we all got more concerned about our freedom. After all, Christ died for it. This is God’s will for us (in case you’ve been wondering about God’s will for your life).

Of course we must carefully consider this freedom in order to understand it “rightly.” We've been set free from the guilt and power of sin and freed unto right living for God's glory. How free are you today? Be encouraged and “stand firm” in your freedom in Christ starting now!

For freedom Christ has set us free; stand firm therefore, and do not submit again to a yoke of slavery. Galatians 5:1 (ESV)

Make Use of Christ Daily

Do you need encouragement today?

Do you struggle to pray because of ongoing sin (the besetting kind) in your life? These words from Dutch Reformer Wilehlmus à Brakel will encourage you today. Think and Meditate on them. Let them Instruct your mind and heart; humble you. Allow them to Train and Equip you in obedience and service. Remember who you are "in Christ." 

"When you prayed in a most acceptable manner and when God heard and answered your prayer, God saw all your future sins as if they were presently commited. It is God's will that we shall forgive our neighbor seventy times seven--this being required in one day. God, however, is infinitely more longsuffering and benevolent than man. Reconciliation has already been accomplished in Christ and you may accept this at all times to your continual justification. You do not have it in your power to keep yourself from sin: your old man is too evil and too strong for this. God permits sin to remain in you for the very reason that you would always be of a humble disposition and to make use of Christ daily. It would be a mockery if you did not repeatedly have a heartfelt desire to sin no more, while yet praying for strength against and the forgiveness of sin. Since, however, this is the case with you, do not allow the fact that you sin repeatedly keep you from prayer. Rather, come all the more, since you are in need of forgiveness and strength, so that the grace of God may be glorified all the more."

Taken from The Christian's Reasonable Service